Cheese-cutter.



No. 627,708. I Patented June 27, I899.

|-'. H. REEVE.

CHEESE CUTTER.

"No Model.)

WITNESSES.

IN VE N TO]? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLORA n. REEVE, 0F NEw YORK, N. Y.

CHEESE- CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 627,708, dated June27, 1899.

Application filed August 13,1898. Serial No. 688,486. (No model.)

zen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county of NewYork, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and usefulImprovements in Cutting Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar lettersand numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved cutting apparatus of the classadapted for accurately dividing a substance into a plurality of piecesof predetermined size and weight.

The device is especially applicable for the use of retailers as a meansfor cutting cheese, the objects thereof being to save time on the partof the dealer and to prevent waste of the substance being sold. a

The device is simple in construction, inexpensive, and durable, and itacts as a receptacle, as well as an efficient dividing and cuttingmeans.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationtaken on the line at 00 of Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a plan View illustrating a change of position Fig. 4 is aplan view illustrating a modification, and Fig. 5 is a sectionalelevation taken on the line y y of Fig. t.

In the practice of my invention I provide, primarily, a wooden base A ofcircular contour. This said base is surrounded upon half its diameterwith a metallic strip B, having a flange B extended outwardly from itsupper edge. This said strip is supplied witha plurality of slits b,which extend to a point below the upper edge of the base A and projectradially through the flanged portion B, thus providing a series ofsegments 1) of equal proportion. These said segments are supplied withfigures indicating a predetermined weight for instance, one-quarter of apound-and the distances between each slit 17 being equal it is obviousthat the knife will 'cut segments of cheese of equal size and weight,thus avoiding the necessity of using an auxiliary scale. The knife 0employed for cutting the cheese has a sleeve 0 formed upon the inner endthereof, and this said sleeve engages a square spindle D, which isextended upwardly from a crank-arm dof a revoluble vertical shaft I), journaled through the center of the base A. All these said parts arepreferably formed integral with each other, and the crank-arm operateswithin acircular countersunk recess a of the base A, thus maintainingasmooth upper surface of the said base. The knife 0 is provided with asliding handle 0, secured around the blade thereof, and also with anauxiliary handle C projected from the sleeve 0, whereby an operator canput suf- .ficient pressure upon the knife to readily cut the cheese. Thebase A is further provided with a sliding .platform E, which is ofapproximately U -shaped contour and is countersunk within grooves a ofthe base A. This said platform is adapted to slide outwardly for thepurpose of receiving a whole cheese, and the sliding handle Gis movableoutwardly for the purpose of supplying a blade equal in lengthto thediameter of the cheese, whereby the cheese can be cut'into halves. Onehalf thereof, as indicated at 1, Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, is thenplaced upon the cutter in position ready to be divided into segments.

In the modifications illustrated by Figs. 4-

and 5 of the drawings the guiding-slits 17 form part of movable slides Bmounted upon a resilientmetallic ring B which is adapted to be adjustedto variable diameters,the slides being movable thereon for the purposeof adj usting them in accordance with the diameter of the ring, and theyare held in any desired position on the said ring by means of thumbnutsb The ring B has overlapping ends, as illustrated at 2, Fig. 40f thedrawings, and

it is mounted upon a series of radially-ex-' tended arms F, having slotsf formed therein. These said slots engage a centrally-located spindleG,formed in the base H, upon which the device is mounted,and theyareheldin any predetermined position by means of a thumb-nut G,which isthreaded to the upper end of the spindle G. In this construction thecircular base A for receiving the cheese is mounted upon a series ofposts h, projected upwardly from the base A, the upper ends of thesesaid posts engaging the recesses a of the base A, whereby the said baseis maintained in accurate position. The construction of the knife is thesame in this instance as that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of thedrawings.

In the operation and use of the device it is simply necessary to halvethe cheese, as before described, and then place one half thereof inposition, as shown by Fig.1 of the drawings. Segments of equal weightand size will then be cut from the cheese and sold without the necessityof employing an auxiliary measureor weight, thus greatly facilitatingthe business of cutting and selling the cheese and obviating all dangerof wasting the cheese.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a cutting apparatus, the combination of a circular base having asemicircular strip upon half its diameter, said strip being supplied atits upper edge with a flange and with a series of vertical slits, whichextend through the said flange forming segments for containing markings,and a swinging vertically-slidable knife, and a spindle upon which theknife is mounted, substantially as shown and described.

2. As an apparatus for cutting cheese, the combination of a circularbase having a semicircular strip upon halfits diameter, said strip beingsupplied at its upper end with a flange and with a series of verticalslits, which extend through the said flange forming segments of equalproportion, a vertically-sliding knife, a square spindle upon which theknife is mount-ed, a crank-arn1 carrying said spindle, and a centrallylocated revoluble shaft j ournaled in the said base and carrying thecrank-arm, substantially as shown and described.

3. As a device for cutting cheese, the combination of a circular basehaving a sliding platform connected thereto and a semicircular series ofguides extended radially, and a verticallymovable knife for engaging thesaid guides, said knife being mounted upona squared spindle, a crank-armcarrying said spindle, and a centrallylocated revoluble shaft carrying,the crank-arm, said knife also being supplied with asliding handle andwith an auxiliary handle substantially as shown and described.

4:. As a cheese-cutting apparatus, the combination of an adjustable ringadapted to be expanded and contracted, and a series of movable guidesattached to the said ring, and means for moving the guides and forexpanding and contracting the ring; with a knife, a squared spindle uponwhich the knife is mounted, a crank-arm carrying said spindle, arevoluble shaft carrying the crank-arm and located centrally of the saidring, and a circular base mounted above said ring, upon which base theshaft is journaled, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as lnyinvention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of August,

FLORA I-I. REEVE.

Witnesses 4 M. G. McLEAN, L. .T. MCGHIE.

